Electrode for secondary batteries



(No Model.) 24 Sheet-s-Sheet 1. H. WOODWARD.

BLBGTRODB PoR SECONDARY BATTERIES;

No. 393,955. Patented Deo. 4, 1888.

N, PETERS. mlLKhogmpher. Waxhngion. DV C.

(No Model.) Y 2 sheetssheet 2. H. WOODWARD.

ELEGTRODE FOR SECONDARY BATTERIES.

No. 393,955. l

Patented Deo. 4, 1888.

Mifflin/[ N. PETERS. PhmwLnhugnplmr. wnhington. 0.a

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

HENRY VVOODIYARD, OF SHEPHERDS BUSH, COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX, ENG- LAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE IYOODIYARD ELECTRICAL COMPANY, OF DE- TROIT, MICHIGAN.

ELECTRODE FOR SECONDARY BATTERIES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 393,955, dated December 4, 1888.

Application i'led March 9, 1888. Serial No. 266,682. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: the metaland upon dissolving out of the salt Be it known that I, HENRY XVOODWARD, a a cast body will be presented suitable for a subj ect of the Queen of England, residing at support for an electrode having an irregularly- Shepherds Bush, in the county of Middlesex, cellular or highly-porous surface presenting 5 England, have invented certain new and usethe utmost exposure and great retaining capa- 5 5 ful Improvements in Electrodes for Secondary bilities of any substance to it applied and a Electric Batteries; and Ido hereby declare the smooth surface in the nature of a backing; following to be a full, clear, and exact descripfurthermore, in a support for an electrode for tion ofthe invention, such as will enable others a secondary electric batteryconsisting of Ine- Io skilled in the art to which it appertains to tallic or plastic substance havinga transverse 6o make and use the same. cut or depression and having embedded in it This Invention relates to electrodes for secat one surface readily-removable matter; furondary electric batteries. thermore, in a support for an electrode for a The object is to produce an electrode for a secondary electric battery, consisting` of a cel- I5 secondary electric battery which shall present lular surface and smooth-backed parts laid to- 65 great surface exposure, which bythe peculiarr get-her back to back; finally, in an electrode structure of its surface shall present the best for a secondary electric battery, consisting of means for retaining act-ive material either inan irregular cellular-surfaced support, as detegral with it or upon it, placed without liascribed, with active material, as set forth.

2o bility ofv scaling or falling off, and which shall In the accompanying drawings, forming 7o be of the highest efficiency in use, and this in a part of this specification, I have illustrated, ready, practical, and comparatively inexpenthough of course the same may be somewhat sive manner. 5 varied without departing from the spirit of Vith these objects in view the invention remy invention, successive constructions of my 25 sides in a body for a support for an electrode support or electrode, an unlicensed employ- 75 for a secondary electric battery, consistingof ment of any of which, either alone or in cona metallic or plastic substance having embedjunction with other matter, would be an inded in its surface readily-removable matter fringement of my rights and those of my aswhich, when removed, will leave the surface signee, THE WooDwARD ELECTRICAL CoM- 30 of the substance in a cellular condition; fur- PANY. v

thermore, in a body for a support for an elec- In the drawings, Figure l is a longitudinal trode for a secondary electric battery, consistsectional view showing the metallic or plastic ing of a suitable metallic or plastic substance Vsubstance in the mold. Fig. 2 is a longitudihaving a readily-removable mass embedded nal sectional view of the metallic or plastic 3 5 in it on one side, the opposite side being substance upon its layer of penetrable sub- 8 5 smooth; furthermore, in a support for an elecstance in the mold, and showing the mold with trode for a secondry electric battery having a central transverse ridge. Fig. 3 is a longiembedded in its surface soluble matter which, tudinal sectional view of a portion of the mewhen removed, will leave the surface of the tallic or plastic substance out of the mold,

4o body cellular; furthermore, in a body suitable showing the penetrable matter-such as rock- 9o for an electrode for a secondary electric batsalt in crystalsadhering to its under surface. tery consisting of a metallic or plastic sub- Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the stance having an irregular cellular surface metallic or plastic substance after removal of and a solid backing or interior integral therethe penetrable mattersuch as rock-salt-re- 45 with; furthermore, in a body for a support moved by solution, showing .the one surface 95 for an electrode in a secondary electric batof the substance roughened, cellular, or highlyl tery, consisting of a suitable metal-such as porous, and the other comparatively smooth, leadhaving embedded in it broken rockand showing also a transverse cut or line of salt with part of the metal above the salt demarkation or division. Fig. 5 is a view of 5o to form a backing, whereby upon cooling of the metallic or plastic substance out of the Ioo mold with the embeddin mattei' removed, and showing the bending to bring the backs together, made possible by the transverse depression. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a support or electrode consisting of two parts with outer surfaces cellular and inner surfaces solid, laid together and fastened.

As an illustration of one means of carrying the invention into effect, a suitable mold is partly tilled with a quantity of any suitable substance into which molten metal or plastic material will penetrate, and which can afterward be readily removed. It is preferred to employ a soluble substance, and of soluble substances the preference is given to broken rock-salt. The rock-salt is illed into the mold to any depth sufficient to leave a suitable thickness for a solid plate above. Upon the crystals of rock-salt molten metalsuch as lead-is poured, preferably, from a perforated ladle, deliveringthe metal into the mold in small streams. The molten metal then enters the interstices between the pieces or crystals of salt, and besides overtiowing the salt and running against the sides of the mold forms a continuous sheet above. After cooling, the metallic substance is taken from the mold and the salt is dissolved out, whereupon the substance will be presented with one surface in a rough, cellular, or highly-porous condition, and with the other comparatively smooth, presenting, where the mold is of the shape here chosen to illustrate the invention, a solid metallic plate protruding from one side of which is the cellular mass referred to; and it will be seen that, owing to the varied forlns of the pieces or crystals of rock-salt, or of the different directions of the intcrstices of the matter into which the molten metal or other metallic body has penetrated, the cells formed by the penetrated matter will form a net-work of cavities particularly adapted firmly to retain any plastic mass applied to the body or inserted into the cells. It will be obvious, however, that the resultingsupport or electrode may be round with a rough surface and central solid body, or of any other desired form, according to the shape of the mold and the disposition of the penetrable matter.

The roughened and cellular surface may itself present an electrode, or will form an admirable support for an active material-such as lead oxide-which, when applied in a plastie condition by smearing on and pressure, will be caused to take the form of the various cells, andthe outer surface also presenting' retaining-points, it will there be firmly held when the whole is in use as an electrode, thus obviating the great objection of the scaling off or falling of the active material from its support, which is the common fault of electrodes as now made for use in secondary batteries. By the peculiar formation of the roughened surface, also, the utmost surface exposure is presented.

After the support has been molded it is preferable to bend or break it in two, with the solid portion within and the rough protion without, and the two parts are then fastened together, as by punching holes through them at one or more points and supplying them with leaden rivets, the whole then presenting a suitable support or electrode.

As required, these supports are provided with active material, as by smearing' such upon them in a plastic state and pressing it into the cells, and a proper electrode is then produced by formingl in the usual manner; or, if the cellularsubstancebe of proper nature for the purpose, it may be formed direct.

The method of produein g the support herein described is not new claimed, the same forming the subject-matter of an application for patent tiled of even date herewith, Serial No. 266,681.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A body for a support Yfor an electrode for a secondary electric battery, consisting of a suitable metallic or plastic substance having a readily-removable mass embedded in on one side, the opposite side being smooth, substantially as set forth.

2. A body suitable for an electrode forasecondary electric battery, consisting of a metallic or plastic mass having an irregular cellular surface anda solid backing or interior integral therewith, substantially as described.

A body for a support for an electrode in a secondary electric battery, consisting of a suitable metal-such as lead-having embedded in it' broken rock-salt wit h part of the metal above the salt to form a backing,whereby, upon cooling of the metal and upon dissolving of the salt, a cast-body will be presented suitable for a support for an electrode having an irregularly-cellular or highly-porous surface, presenting the utmost exposure and great retaining capabilities of any substance to it applied, and a smooth surface in the nature of a backing, substantially as set forth.

t. A support for an electrode for a secondary electric battery, consisting of metallic or plastic substance having a transverse eut or depression and having embedded in it at one surface readily-removab]e matter, substantiall v as described.

5. A support for an electrode for a secondary electric battery, consisting of a .cellular surface and smooth backed parts laid together back to back, substantially as described.

6. An electrode for a secondary battery, consisting of a supporthaving' an irregular cellular surface and solid interior, the cellular surface holding active material, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix. my signature in presence ot' two witnesses.

HENRY \VOOD`\VARD.

'itnesses:

WM. FITzsrMoNs, J. B. EMMoNs,

30H1 of U. S. Consulate,Lz'epool.

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